Buhari’s Re-Appointment of IGP Raises Questions

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, February 4, announced the re-appointment of retired Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu for a period of three months.  Adamu’s appointment as interim Inspector General of Police came a few days after he was due for retirement from the Force. It is unclear where President Buhari derived the power to appoint an interim IGP. The Nigerian Constitution in section 215(1) requires the President to appoint an IGP from among serving officers of the Police Force. Section 18(8) of the new Police Act signed by the President stipulates the retirement age for a police officer to be 60 years of age or 35 years of public service, whichever is earlier. The law does not authorise the President to appoint anybody who has passed retirement age as IGP.